Information providing system and method

• US 6,694,250 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Todoriki, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/983,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/24, 701/25, 701/210, 701/50, 340/989, 340/988, 340/992, 340/991, 340/426, 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

An information providing system of a vehicle providing information from an outside section to the vehicle is provided with: a communication section making a request to the outside section for transmitting a pre-selected service information and receiving the requested service information from the outside section through a communication network; a memory section storing the requested service information received from the outside section; an information providing section providing the received information stored in the memory section; a light emitting section located in a frontal visible area of the vehicle; and a control section controlling the information providing section and the light emitting section. The control section turns on the light emitting section for a first time interval when the requested service information is received and after that, allows the information providing section to provide the stored service information.

Claims

1. An information providing system of a vehicle providing information from an outside section to the vehicle, comprising:

a communication section making a request to the outside section for transmitting a pre-selected service information and receiving the requested service information from the outside section;

a memory section storing the requested service information received from the outside section;

an information providing section providing the received information stored in the memory section;

a light emitting section located in a frontal visible area of the vehicle; and

a control section controlling the light emitting section to turn on for a first time interval when the requested service information is stored in the memory section and controlling the information providing section to provide the stored service information when a second time interval elapses after the light emitting section has been turned on in accordance with the requested service information having been stored in the memory section.

2. An information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the second time interval is defined to be longer than the first time interval.

3. An information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the control section allows the stored service information to be provided on the information providing section after the light emitting device has been turned off.

4. An information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle load discriminating section discriminating a vehicle'"'"'s load status, and wherein the second time interval is determined to correspond to the vehicle'"'"'s load status.

5. An information providing system according to claim 4, wherein, when the vehicle'"'"'s load status remains at a low level, the control section allows the stored service information to be provided on the information providing section without turning on the light emitting section.

6. An information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising an information provision start-up command section producing a start-up command signal responsive to a driver'"'"'s operation, and wherein the second time interval is defined to correspond to reception of the start-up command signal.

7. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein, when the start-up command signal is received from the information provision start-up command section after the light emitting section has been turned on, the control section allows the stored service information to be provided on the information providing section.

8. An information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting section is mounted in the vicinity of a circumferential portion of a front window of the vehicle.

9. An information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising an information provision delay command section producing a delay command signal responsive to a driver'"'"'s operation, and wherein, when the delay command signal is received from the information provision delay command section after the light emitting section has been turned on, the control section allows the stored service information to be provided on the information providing section after elapse of a third time interval longer than the second time interval.

10. An information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising an information request section in which an information source to be accessed in correspondence with service information to be selected is selectable so that the communication section makes the request to the outside section for transmitting the pre-selected service information from the information source.

11. An information providing system according to claim 10, wherein the control section allows the light emitting section to be turned on when the communication section transmits the request of the service information selected by the information request section to the outside section.

12. An information providing system of a vehicle providing information from an outside section to the vehicle, comprising:

communicating means for making a request to the outside section for transmitting a pre-selected service information and receiving the requested service information from the outside section;

memory means for storing the requested service information received from the outside section;

information providing means for providing the received information stored in the memory section;

light emitting means for emitting a light and located in a frontal visible area of the vehicle; and

controlling means for controlling the light emitting means to turn on for a first time interval when the requested service information is stored in the memory means and controlling the information providing means to provide the stored service information when a second time interval elapses after the light emitting section has been turned on in accordance with the requested service information having been stored in the memory means.

13. A method of providing information from an outside section to a vehicle, comprising:

requesting a pre-selected service information to the outside section;

receiving the requested service information from the outside section;

storing the received service information;

providing the stored information in the vehicle;

turning on a light at a frontal visible area of the vehicle; and

controlling the light to be turned on for a first time interval when the requested service information is stored in the memory section and controlling the stored service information to be provided when a second time interval elapses after the light has been turned on in accordance with the requested service information having been stored in the memory section.